going without

For me, fasting is one of the hardest disciplines to regularly accomplish.  Fasting from food, entertainment, speaking, or whatever can be challenging, but it is a good way to deepen your relationship with Jesus. It helps me identify with his suffering in a small way.

Matt. 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

rest

As we embark on probably the busiest time of year, I just wanted to remind you that resting is important. My husband reminded me of this a couple of weeks ago, that is why I am not blogging on Sundays. Rest is just as important as work.  So in the busy weeks ahead, be sure to carve out some times of rest.

Hebrews 4:9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

more than a member

Are you involved in a local church? Really involved, letting people know you and being known for who you are as well?  There is freedom and joy in that kind of fellowship.  True friendships are birthed in serving and knowing each other, not just attending the same church meeting.  How are you loving your friend and brother today?

1John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

journal time

One way I like to keep tabs on what God is doing in my life is to keep a journal.  I've done this in a number of ways, write on a calendar, a notebook, or on a blog :) I also have a friend that writes down his answered prayers on a stone like in Joshua 4. It is important to remember what God has done - it builds my faith to see how God has moved in response to my prayers.

Joshua 4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

hair for Sarah

This evening I am donating my hair for Sarah Gardner, for her full story click on the caring bridge link on the right hand side of this page. While I have only met Sarah a handful of times, I know her sister well.  Sarah's story is very compelling. In a nutshell, she survived brain cancer, with permission from her doctors, got pregnant, cancer recurred, delivered a very premature baby, who is doing well, while Sarah continues to fight.  They are both at home but need continued prayers for health and healing. 
God is good and I know that He can heal Sarah and that is my prayer.

ask, seek, knock

God wants to be involved in your life. It's crazy to think about, but He really does want to have a personal relationship with you, not just "lay down the law."  He wants to love you and bless you yes but even more than that he wants to be a father to you-have a relationship with you.  Amazing.

Mt. 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

the widow's offering

I don't know why this story from Mark 12 came to mind today:

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Tithing is good and right, but sometimes we are called to give sacrificially of our money, time and effort. Consider how God wants to use you today.